Lock



Jan. '20, 1931. E. N. JACOB] 1,789,754

LOCK

Filed April l6 1924 WITNESSES C II LVEN TOR AT TO RNE Y Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATEN FFICE.

EDWARD N. J'ACOBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG'NQR, JBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO BRIGGS & STBATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISGONSIN, A CORPORA- TIQN OF DELAWARE LOOK Application filed April 16, 1924. Serial No. #116,897.

This invention has for its object to provide a lock of the slide tumbler type capable of a greater number of key changes by reason of the tumblers being given a spring pressure. 8 Another object of the invention is to accomplish the provision of separate spring means for each tumbler slide in a manner that will not materially add to the cost of manufactors and without undue complication tending to impair the efficiency of the look.

A further object is to provide a lock plug for use with spring-pressed flat slide tumblers, consisting of a single integral body of die cast construction.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thelockas herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate 20 the same or similar parts in dilierent views,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a lock constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing one or the tumblers in its unlocking position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the tumbler in its locked position;

gig. 5 is a bottomoview of the lock cylinder, an

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the tumbler slides.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of said modification, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the tumbler slides of the modification.

In these drawings, 10 indicates a bushing forming a lock-case within which a lock cylinder' 11 is rotatably mounted. The bushing is provided with grooves or recesses 12 to receive the ends of tumblers 13 which consist of flat plate tumbler slides fitting in trans" verse tumbler guides of the die cast lock cylinder. The transverse tumbler guides of the lock cylinder are intercepted by a large longitudinal slot 14: extending diametrically through t vlinder so that the tumbler guides in which the tumbler slides 13 fit are in the nature of grooves in the wall of the large slot. This facilitates the production of the cylinder or plug by die casting, as a large corefor the longitudinal slot 14.- with lateral fins for the grooves may be more easily drawn from the casting without injury than separate cores for transverse slots to leave complete partitions between them.

The key 15 fits in a longitudinal slot of irregular shape corresponding with its sectional shape and passes through central openings of the tumbler slides and on its upper edge it is serrated or of irregular shape so as to lift the tumbler slidesmore or less. In the final position of the key the irregularity in spacing of the openings of the tumbler slides from their ends is such that all slides lie within the cylindrical contour of the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder may be turned by means of the key to operate the mechanism attached thereto as for instance the latch of an automobile door.

Instead of providing both edges of the key with corresponding serrations with suficient pla to accomplish the adjustment of the tumblbr slides, a closer or more accurate fitting is accomplished and consequently a greater number of key changes afiorded by providing each tumber slide with a spring for holding it in bearing contact with the serrated edge of the key. In a device so small the provision of separate spring means for the closely spaced flat tumber slides involves some diiiiculties but is accomplished in the present invention by providing each transverse tumbler guide with a bore hole 16 at its end communicating therewith, as shown in Fig. 5, and the avoidance'of thin walls separating these bore holes is accomplished by staggering them on the opposite sides of the slot 14 making them suitable for coring with the core that forms the slot 14.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of each bore hole 16 is provided with a lug 17 for centerin the end of a coil spring 18 housed within t e bore, and an arm 19 extending laterall from the edge of the tumbler slide 13, as s own in Fig. 6, issimilarly provided.

the tumbler slide against the key makes thedevice exceedingly sensitive and enables a greater number of key changes to be made.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, a somewhat larger spring is provided for by locating the bore openings 16 between the tumbler slide slots instead of at their ends, and then forming each tumbler slide 13'1 with an arm 19 standing at right angles to the plane of the tumbler slide.

It will be noted that in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the edge of the tumbler slide constitutes one wall.

' of the spring pocket so that the spring has a direct bearing thereon, thus enabling a larger spring to be used than would otherwise be the case and avoiding the formation of shoulders against which the convolutions of the springs might engage to deprive them of their full spring action. Also by completing the close-fitting guide for the springs, the engaging edges of the tumblers prevent the springs from bowing out of shape and so preserve the form of the springs while obtaining the maximum spring action therefrom.

It is recognized that the present invention does not consist in providing the. plate tumblers with springs but rather in mounting such tumblers in grooves formed in opposite side walls of a longitudinally extending transverse slot and housing the springs in bore holes communicating with the grooves whereby the slot and the grooves and the bore holes may be formed by the same core for die casting the lock cylinder as a single integral, body.

What I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece .lock cylinder having an axial longitudinally extending key opening therein with its medial port-ion enlarged to provide a tumbler receiving chamber extending to the cylinder periphery through its length, there being grooves in the opposite walls of the chamber to form tumbler guides, plate tumblers independently fitting in the tumbler guides, there being a bore hole in thechamber wall for each tumbler guide and opening into one of the grooves, coil springs seated in the bore holes, and arms on the edges of the tumbler slides extending into the bore holes and engaging the springs, the ends of the arms contacting with the far sides of their respective bore holes to guide the adjacent therein with its medial portion enlarged to provide a chamber communicating with the peripheryof the cylinder and having grooves in its opposite walls forming tumbler guides plate tumblers disposed in said chamber and independently fitting in the tumbler guides and having openings to receive a key, there being bore holes in the side wall of the chamber shorter than the grooves but opening into the grooves, arms on the tumbler slides extending into said bore holes, the ends of the arms contacting with the far sides of their re.- spective boreholes to guide the adjacent sides of the tumblers in their movements in said chamber, lugs on said arms and at the ends of said bore holes, and coil springs contained within the bore holes and centered at their ends of said lugs.

3. In a look, a lock cylinder having a keyway therein and provided with a longitudinally extending slot passing diametrically therethrough with opposite grooves in its side walls forming tumbler guides, tumbler slides each fitting in opposite grooves and having openings through which the key passes, there being bore openings in the slot wall between the grooves, each opening its full length into one of the grooves, an arm on each of the tumbler slides projecting from one edge thereof and standing at right angles to the plane of the slide and extending into the bore opening, coiled springs mounted in the bore openings and bearing on the arms to press the tumbler slides in one direction with spring pressure, and a lock-case in which the lock cylinder is rotatably mounted and provided with recesses to receive the ends of the tumbler slides for preventing the turning of the lock cylinder.

4. In a look, a lock cylinder having a key opening therethrough and provided with a longitudinally extending slot passing diametrically therethrough, there bein opposite grooves in the walls of the slot to orm tumblerguides, tumbler slides each slidably fitting 1n opposite grooves, there being a bore opening in the slot wall for each tumbler guide of greater diameter than the width of the grooves and opening its full length into one of the grooves so that the edge of the tumbler slide forms a wall therefor, a coiled spring seated in each of said bore openings and bearing its full length against the edge of of the tumbler slide to be guided thereby and prevented from displacement, an arm on each of the tumbler slides extending into the bore opening and engaging the spring whereby the tumblers are moved in one direction by spring pressure, and a lock-case in which the lock cylinder is rotatably mounted provided with recesses into which the tumbler slides may reject to prevent turning of the lock cylin er.

5. In a lock, an integral cast plug having a longitudinally extending transverse tumbler chamber opening to the plug periphery at diametrically opposite points, and having guide grooves in its opposite walls, there being spring recesses in a chamber wall communicating with the chamber by way of the guide grooves, tumblers in the grooves, springs in the spring recesses engaging the tumblers, and a lock-case having recesses to receive the ends of the tumblers when the tumblers are projected beyond the plug periphery by said springs.

6., A plug for locks consisting of an integral die casting having alongitudinally extending transverse tumbler chamber opening to the plug periphery at diametrically opposite points and having guide grooves in its opposite walls, and spring recesses in a chamber wall communicating with the chamber by way of the guide grooves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD N. JACOBI. 

